When you look at the overall figures for the week it looks pretty bad. Only 2 runs, a bike ride and a bit of a splash in the pool on Monday. Hardly consistant training ... but I do have excuses :)
It wasn't the best start to the week when I made the decision to go out for a run after dinner. I just needed a little rest before facing the hour run. A few more than 40 winks later I really couldn't conjure up the energy to get out the door. No problem though as I had swum at lunchtime so I just swapped the Mon/Tue sessions and felt a little bit less guilty.
This meant a run on Tuesday. I wasn't going to make the error of waiting till I was too tired to go out so I took my 'kit' to work and ran home ... well I ran past my house cos it would have only been a 10min run and on along my 'hilly' course. It was really hot and I was melting but I felt good. I did notice that I had forgot my compression socks but my legs felt good and there was no pain anywhere. I was trying to determine where I should turn to make up the hour when I saw a familiar figure running towards me.
A friend from work who had left about a year ago was running home from work from in town. It was great to catch up and hear about his Tauranga Half experience. I didn't even know he was doing it. The annoying thing is that he finished a few minutes after Kathy and so I could have cheered him along as well. It was his first Half and I might just have convinced him to do Rotorua next. Haha ... mad fool!!!!
I ran back with him and we chatted and then he said that he normally cuts through the estuary loop instead of going through Merivale. Seemed like a good idea. Running along the estuary was fine but then you hit the loop track that climbs through the 'bush' up to Yatton Park. It was all stairs and it was STEEP!!!. Great workout though. I'll use this route from now on. Out on the road and then back through the park. Might even become a multi-loop option to get that stair climbing in more than once.
Wednesday was Staff Development Day at work at Pilot Bay and one of the options was Waka Ama. It was great fun but just so hard in the heat. We had a few loops of Pilot Bay and then there were a few 'races'. Our boat (mainly full of Trades - electrical/carpentry/builders) won overall which was great. It also confirmed my thoughts that I'll never do a race that involves paddling a boat. The coast to coast is always in the back of my mind but the kayak section just rules it out for me. After the Waka Ama and beach cricket I was in no state to do any training that evening. So another blank on my training week.
I did manage to get one run in before the weekend. I ran my 'hilly' course out and then came back up and through the 'bush'. I actually managed to get up early and get out before 7am. That's good for me :) Had a great run. Still very slow and very one paced but I'm happy with the way my calfs are feeling stronger. I've just seen that there's a Half Marathon at the Mount at the end of May. Plan is to target this as a test of my running. I'll keep plodding on for a few weeks and then maybe add some 'speed' (all relative) work.Saturday's ride was just over 2 hours and included a loop of Poripori Rd (new route for me), Cambridge Rd and a 6.8K TT up the Toll Rd. Poripori was interesting. It was a gorgeous morning and there were great views from the top of the climb. Definitely taking a camera next time.
On the way home I did one up and down on part of the Toll Rd. I didn't think there was much wind and thought I might be able to take advantage of that and post a good time. It must have been that I wasn't riding hard enough during the Poripori route because I sure noticed the wind on the Toll Rd. I was averaging over 40km/hr going out and struggled to keep it above 30 on the way back. Just missed out on beating my best time (11:31 with race tyres) with a 11:34 with normal tyres. I must have been really warmed up from the first part of the ride cos my HR was much higher during this 'interval' and I managed to keep in Zone 4/5 (above 147) for 11:01 of the 11:34. Maximum was 164 so I could have pushed harder and the average was 155. That's high for me! :)
We spent the rest of the day at the local outdoor pool with a picnic lunch ... again! Got to make the most of this gorgeous summer we're still having. Did some swimming with the kids and did one 250m set (5:57). Jo and Laura beat me and Adam in a relay race. Jo handed Laura a big lead beating Adam in the first 25m but I thought I'd just catch Laura in the homestretch but no such luck. Think she actually went away from me at the end. I'll take my wetsuit next week.
It's hard having Adam explain things to me on the computer and Laura out swimming me in the pool ... is this what being a dad with 'growing up too fast kids' is all about? Adam is already set on what he wants to do. He has planned his career as a pilot right from working in Pak'n'Save' when he's 14 to pay for flying lessons right up to flying for British Airways (they pay the most) ... we have made it very clear that he'll have to pay his own way if he wants to go down that path. Have you seen the price of flying lessons?
Much easier with Laura. Her ambition is to be able to lay on the settee all day and watch Disney Channel. While on the subject of kids ... Laura was made a School Ambassador on Friday. We're really proud. Adam was one but we half expect it with him but Laura is so quiet and shy (or was) that you would never dream of her doing it. The New Zealand school 'system' (seems to promote self development as much as academic development) has been great for her and really bought her out of her shell and out of the shadow of her 'show off' brother. We now think she's going to be the performer/entertainer and Adam will work in a bank.
Rest day tomorrow ... although it is weigh in day :(
It's been a bad week for me food wise. Too many temptations along the way and I am so weak when it comes to avoiding overeating. Next week should be better. The 'silly' season is over. The kids are back at school. I am back at work and there will be students on campus and I might actually have to do a bit of teaching. What is the world coming to?
I'm looking forward to a great week's training and hitting EVERY session ... no excuses!
